Years ago I had a real fear of going places I had never been, especially by myself. My husband challenged me to meet him in San Francisco every Friday at a different restaurant. No matter how many weeks went by I would always try to be a little bit more late than I had the … Read more
We arrived promptly at 6:30 and Carole, the host was very gracious. She wasn’t finished dressing so she excused herself as soon as we were settled with a glass of wine. The wine was set up in the kitchen so Fred suggested I stand near the end of the counter where people would have to … Read more
So it was finally the day of the party, the Friday after Thanksgiving. I got up early and made coffee and by the time Fred came in for breakfast I told him as calmly as I could, “I can’t go to the party. I too afraid.” I actually cried. I resisted every logical point he … Read more
I was running out of excuses and it was now early November! I thought about it for a couple of weeks before I thought I came up with the perfect excuse! “I have nothing to say to people who belong to a country club!” He was so clever. He never argued, he never raised his … Read more
I was very shy as a young woman. I didn’t enjoy being around people socially and would do whatever I could to avoid attending parties. I was fine going out dancing with girlfriends but I always had to have them in my line of sight to stay comfortable. I had been with Fred for 8 … Read more
I had a choice to go to UC Berkeley or Chico State (now California State University, Chico). UC Berkeley intimidated me as it was in 1968. The beginning of the Angela Davis era, the Viet Nam war protests and civil rights unrest. I wouldn’t have stood a chance of survival! After a year in college, … Read more
I finally decided to go for it and after 50 hours I called to schedule my check ride with a grizzly old flight instructor by the name of Red. Of all the instructors to draw, he was the worst one! The first thing Red said to me was “Girls can’t fly!” Behind his back I … Read more
I started taking flying lessons in the spring of 84 and it was grueling. I hired a man from Brazil who used dramatic tactics to make sure I had what it took. When I took my first night flight to Stockton we were on approach when the runway lights went out. I immediately raised the flaps … Read more
On the way home that Friday I stopped by the Concord airport and signed up for ground school. I left the receipt pink slip on the counter and began to put things together for dinner. When my husband came home that night he scanned the pink slip and asked “What is this?” “I signed up … Read more
I had a very disturbing conversation with a friend today. She found out she’s loosing her job in a month and she now has an opportunity to move back home to Florida and be close to family again after thirty years in California. She told me she feels guilty for making so many bad decisions … Read more